Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this matter, which gives me an opportunity to outline the up to date position regarding the 2016 payments under GLAS. It is important to point out with regard to the Deputy's final point, that GLAS is the most heavily subscribed scheme ever run under a rural development programme in Ireland. The original target of 50,000 participants has been well surpassed such is the popularity of the scheme. GLAS has a maximum annual payment of €5,000 under the general scheme, with provision for payment up to €7,000, known as GLAS+, where the farmer is required to give exceptional environmental commitments in a limited number of cases.

GLAS, like previous agri-environment schemes, provides valuable support to participants who deliver public goods and environmental benefits that enhance Ireland’s agriculture sustainability credentials. The scheme delivers overarching benefits to the rural environment and also addresses the issues of the mitigation of the impacts of climate change, the improvement of water quality and the enhancement of biodiversity.

The scheme supports participants in improving their agricultural productivity and practices in a sustainable manner. Applications under the first two tranches of the GLAS scheme resulted in almost 38,000 farmers being approved into the scheme in its first year of implementation. This represented an unprecedented level of participation in the first year of an agri-environment scheme in Ireland. A further 13,500 participants have been approved under GLAS 3. Last year, 2016, represents the first full year of payments under GLAS. To be very clear, only GLAS tranche 1 and 2 participants are eligible for a payment in respect of 2016.

The scheme is co-funded by the national Exchequer and the European agricultural fund for rural development. As required under EU regulation, two payments issue in respect of each year, with the advance payment being followed at a later stage by the balancing payment. In 2016 and again in 2017, the advance payment represents 85% of the annual payment, with the balancing payment being 15%.

In 2016, advance payments commenced in December and continued to be made on an ongoing basis as cases were cleared. Over 99% of 2016 advance payments have now been issued and, to date this year, we have paid out almost €150 million under the scheme. In the majority of the remaining cases, applicants have been advised on a number of occasions of the steps they must take before the Department can process their payment. In most cases, this relates to outstanding documentation they must submit. As soon as this is received and assuming everything is in order, my Department will move immediately to make the payment. After the advance payment, the remaining 15% is paid out at a later stage, and this is known as the balancing payment. The 2016 balancing payments commenced on schedule during the summer and are also being issued on an ongoing basis. We have been paying out almost €1 million per week in payments since these payments commenced, and this week expect to pay out almost €1.2 million.

The main issue with these payments is the need for advisors to submit a farm nutrient management plan to the dedicated online system. A plan must be submitted on behalf of each GLAS 1 and 2 participant before 2016 balancing payments and any future GLAS payments, including 2017 advance payments, can be issued. Plans have now been submitted on behalf of over 80% of all GLAS 1 and 2 participants. Just over 6,000 plans remain outstanding.

This specific figure of 6,000 is what was raised by the Deputy. These are not delayed payments, as has been suggested. It is simply not possible for my Department to make these payments because the 6,000 applicants have not met the requirements by not submitting their nutrient management plan. Over 30,000 applicants have submitted the plan and, hence, received their balancing payment immediately. We are keenly aware of the need to process these cases and issue the balancing payments without delay. We have regularly communicated the importance of submitting the plans to participants, the farm representative bodies, the advisers and the media generally in order to generate as much awareness as possible.

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